Tape holder and moistener



March 4, 1930; H. J. TA

YLOR l [N VENTOR Y /r/WPVJ 25710,?. B

A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 4, 1930 rPATENT OFFICE HARRY J'. TAYLOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

'.LAPE` HOLDER AND MOISTENER Application led December 8, 1927. Serial No. 238,679.

This invention relates to sealing devices and in particular to one adapted to hold a roll of sealing tape adapted for use in binding up packages thus doing away with cord and other holding agents.

-A` particular object of the invention is to provide asealing device wherein may be contained'a tape moistening roller, a water'well in which the roller is placed and a trough in which the roll of tape may rest, the trough itself being so shaped that it will allow the easy withdrawal of the tape from the roll withoutregard to the diameter of the roll or width of the tape.

A still further particular object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be made of porcelainof a highly glazed nature and to which may beimparted av shiny whiteness, thereby rendering ythe devicer clean and sanitary,

A still further object of the invention is tovprovide a device of this nature in which the parts have been compacted so as to eliminate unnecessary pieces and one which 1s so constructed that a minimum amount of material is used Vin the manufacture thereof.

A -still further object of the invention is to` provide a sealing device wherein the tape may be drawn fromthe roll across al moistening roller orcylinder and may be jerked back to be severed by a knife positioned rearwardly of the roller so that the tape is ready for instant use. Y

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend 'the underlyingfeatures of my invention that they may embody the same in the various modifications in structure and re- Y lation contemplated, a drawing depicting a may be drawn across a serrated runway under a knife and over a moistening roller.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 2%*3 of F lgure 2 and shows how the knife member is positioned on the body of the sealing device, the runway also being shown and the tape being illustrated in the position that it would occupy in passing under the knife.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2 and shows the crosssectional con- 60 struction at various points in the body of the sealing device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates generally the body of the sealing device which is constructed of a single, solid piece of porcelain made from a very high grade of clay and highly glazed. This is produced by pressingy the mud in a die and glazing the same in a kiln to a shiny, white brightness. The under side of the base 5 is 70 provided with a cut-out 6 whereby the weight ofthe device` is reduced to a minimum, the upper surface of the device being provided with a suitable tape holding trough 7 and forwardly thereof with an under-cut runway 8, the runway being provided'with a transversely serrated surface 9. The expression under-cut in this instance meaning that the upper edges of the serrations are below the plane of the edges of the base, thus providing S0 at the opposite longitudinal sides of the device and adjacent the forward edge of the runway, the overhanging flanges 10, it being understood that these fianges 10 are provided at the forward reaches only of the runway while the remainder of the device in those portions illustrated bythe numeral 11 are the same width from the ends of the flanges 10 to the rear end of the device. These flanges 10 are arranged to receive a knife or cutting to the moistening roller. rlhe forward portion of the base is cut out to provide a rectangular well 14, the side walls thereof being provided with aXle receiving grooves 15 and through the medium of which there may be positioned within the well 14, a suitable moistoning roller 16. This roller is also made of vitreous material to match the body of the sealing device and the roller has secured therein, an axle 17 which is preferably made of nickel plated brass in order to avoid rusting. The Well is usually provided with water 18 and will be knoted that the side ofthe well nearest the runway 8 provides ardividing wall 19, this wall being bevelled on the side thereof adjacent the runway as at 2O so that the tape, which is indicated rbyr the numeral 21,1nay be guided up out ofthe runway `the tape roll 21 is curved to accommodate the' circumference of a roll substantially 5005r feet or less in length and is so designedthat the effort required is practically the same as the roll decreases by use. The trough is also designed so that the roll will not get out of the trough by its rolling action.

It is to be understood, that if desired the f cutter 12 may be sharpened at its forward" edge to facilitate the severing of the tape although any thin piece 'of metal particularly adapted to the purpose, it is believed, would be thin enough to eectively severthe tape.

llhis cutter is made of nickel platedlbrassy Y preferably in order to avoid rusting.

t will be noted that openings 22 have been cast in the bottom surface of the'base 5 at` the corners thereof and into the openings 2.2i

may be inserted suitable rubber feet 23 or other cushion members which will not ,per-V mit the sealing device to mar the surface of the furniture upon which it rests, such for in-V stance, thesurface of a desk or oiiice table or store counter.

lt is evident therefore, that I have provided an improved sealing device which is made up from twopieces of porcelain of a highly glazed nature which can be readily cleansed and which will remain sanitary under all conditions.

It is evident also that I have provided a sealing device arranged to holdy a tape roll of varying diameter without in any way increasing the tension on the tape drawn from the roll due to its decreasing size and weight.

Ity is also evident that in a device of this character l have provided a serrated runway over which the tape may be fingered without danger of its adhesion to the surface over which it is drawn and in a device ofthis character, l have provided a cutting member:

through the medium of which the tape may be severed after it has been moistened by the i film of water carried by the moistening roller. K-

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularit-y, I realize that in rpractice'various alterations therein may be made. l therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement Vof the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the uscope of the appended claims.

Having thusdescribed my invention what kI claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A moistening device and y tape yroll holder comprising a base, a tape roll holding trough at one end thereof, a well on the opL47 posite end thereof, a runway over which the tape is drawn toward said well, said runway having a transversely serrated surface and being in a plane lower than the upper side of said base and a cutting member positioned? adjacent the forward end of said runway. l

2. A tape moistening device of the'class described comprising a base having a tape kroll trough at one end thereof, a Well near` the other end of the body, a moistening roller mounted in said well, the upper surface of the body having a ldepressed portion extending between the weiland the trough and lo# cated in a plane below the planeof the upw per surface of the 'body,;thebody havingan upwardly beveled wall portion between' the forwardV end of the depressed portion and the rear end of the well, the surface of lthe depressed portion being formed with transversely extending corrugations Aover which the tape is to be drawn to the moistening roller, and a combined guide and cutter cornprising a strip mounted upon the upper side of the body and extending transverselyV thereof above theV forward yend of the depressed portion and with one transverse edge presented in proximity to thefbeveled wall portion ofthe body. ,Y A

3. A moistening device of the class describedccmprising a base* having a tape l'roll holding'trough near one vend thereof and* a well near'the other endthereof, a moistening roller rotatably mounted in the said well, the upper side of the base being provided withv a depressed surface portion of less rwidth than the upper side ofthe base whereby marginal portionsof the upper side of the base will project above saidk surface portion to provide guides for the tape passing over-said surface portion and tothe moistening roller, the said surface VportionA having a seriesof transversely extending serrations, the said base having an upstand- Y ing wall portion at the rear wall` of the well and at thev forward end of the said serrated surface* portion, the fwall `portion beingbeve imty to the upper edgeof the said beveled wall portion of the base.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

HARRY J. TAYLOR. [L 5.] 

